Mt Lyell mine to close | VIDEO

Copper Mines of Tasmania said it has put the mine into care and maintenance.

The mine has been closed since January, following three workplace deaths.

It was to have started re-opening this month under a new mining plan, but a recent rockfall affecting ventilation led to another delay.

It would be at least 18 months before reopening the mine would be possible, CMT said.

The mine’s workforce will fall to 15.

Last December it employed 320 people.

CMT general manager Scot Clyde said clearing the rock fall and restoring the mine’s ventilation drive would have required a further three months in shut down.

This would have imposed a further ``substantial financial cost’’ to pay the mine’s workers on standby for that time.

``I want to reassure everyone that we have done everything possible to keep the mine running as we understand just how important it is to our own workforce and for the West Coast community,’’ Mr Clyde said.

Drilling and exploration for new ore bodies on the Mt Lyell lease will continue with the aim of re-opening the mine in the future.

Vedanta will ``explore opportunities’’ to relocate workers within its international operations.

EARLIER: MOUNT Lyell mine workers have been told that the mine is closing.

The mine is expected to close in two weeks.

This afternoon the Australian Workers Union confirmed the mine was closing and would be put into care and maintenance.

The Advocate's Adam Langenberg reports on Mt Lyell mine's future.

Workers were due to be briefed at about lunch time today.

It is understood workers were told jobs at the mine would be reduced from 84 to 12.

The remaining roles would be maintenance positions.

The mine has been closed since January, following three workplace deaths.

It was to have started re-opening this month under a new mining plan, but a recent rockfall affecting ventilation led to - at best - another long delay.

Operator Copper Mines of Tasmania has been considering how best to handle the situation, with options including a continued, expensive delay while the problem is cleared, or closure.